Indian J.Vet. Med. Vol.17, No.

l&2, 1997 :91-92

CONTROL OF THE DOG TICK RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS WITH A HERBAL

ECTOPARASITICIDAL FORMULATION
S.K Maiti, S.L AH, S. Roy and V.N. Rao
Department of Veterinary Medicine, -
College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry,
P.B.No.6 Durg, 491 001 (M.P.)
Tick infestation is one of the most common problems encountered in pet animals. The brown
dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus affects its hosts adversely, not only due to tick worry and anemia
resulting from blood sucking, but also indirectly through transmission of various disease agents
(Khan and Srivastava, 1988). With the current emphasis on safe alternatives to chemical control
(Mignon and Losson, 1996), the present work was undertaken to assess the acaricidal efficacy of
AV/EPP/14* an indigenous plant-derived ectoparasiticide in the control of natural tick infestation in dogs.

Twenty dogs of different breeds and ages, of Bilai area naturally infested with adult and
immature stages of Rhipicephalid ticks were used for this study. Ticks were found on all parts of
the body and in more numbers on ear and inguinal regions. To know the degree of infestation, number
of ticks per unit area (3 inch x 3 inch) was counted before application of the drug. Dogs having one tick
per unit area (average of 10 unit areas) was graded as light infestation, two ticks as moderate and three
or more ticks per unit area as severe infestation. Six dogs with severe, 6 with moderate and 4 having
light infestations were treated with the recommended 1:4 dilution of AV/ EPP/14 in tap water as hand
dressing (sponging). The remaining 4 dogs having light to moderate infestations were kept as control
and treated only with tap water as placebo. Owners were advised for light grooming of their dogs after 12
hours of application of the drug. Simultaneously, the kennel premises were also sprayed using the
same drug at recommended dilution to check reinfestation. The application of the drug was repeated at 7
days interval till complete elimination of different stages of ticks. The assessment of the acaricidal
efficacy was done on the basis of absence of ticks on the body after treatment and freedom from
reinfestation.

The results revealed that single application of the 1:4 dilution of AV/EPP/ 14 caused 100 per cent
elimination of both adult and nymphal ticks in light and moderately infested dogs after 24 hours of
treatment. Among the 6 heavily infested dogs, 4 had a few adult ticks surviving in their body following the
first application. Second application after 7 days resulted in these 4 dogs also becoming totally free from
ticks. The infestations of the control dogs were found to persist during this period until eventual control
with AV/ EPP/14.

The widespread and often injudicious use of chemical insecticides not only adversely affects the
animal and human health but also pollutes the environment. Additionally, their diminishing efficacy due
to resistance problem (Nolan, 1987) is seriously undermining their utility. As such, currently the
consensus is tilting in favour of safer, economical, less persistent and more selective pest control agents.
These criteria are fulfilled by natural prudent and more selective pest control agents. These criteria are fulfilled
by natural products and indigenous plant-based preparations.
The ectoparasiticidal effects of AV7 EPP/14 are based on the properties of its herbal ingredients viz.
Acorus calamus, Azadirachta indica, Cedrus deodara, Eucalyptus globulus and Pongamia glabra. These
are known to possess insecticidal, growth inhibitory, anti-moulting, antifertility and repellent
activities (Roy et al 1996). In earlier studies, AV/EPP/ 14 had been found effective against mange
and other ectoparasites on dogs (Roy et al.,1996; Sharma, 1996). The results of present trial further
confirm the efficacy-of AV/EPP/14 against naturally infestation of the dog tick. R.Sanquineus.
Moreover the treated dogs were observed to remain protected from period of reinfestation upto 30
days of treatment indicating the residual effect of drug. This period of residual control is much longer
than the 8-15 days provided by some standard chemical dip formulations (Garris, 1991). The non-toxic,
non-irritant and fully biodegradable natures of AV/EPP/14 are additional favorable features.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 The authors are thankful to M/S Dabur Ayurvet Ltd., Ghaziabad for free supply of the formulation
AV/EPP/14 for this trial.

REFERENCES

Garris, G.I. (1991). Control of Ticks. Small Animal Practice 21, 173-183.
Khan.M. H. and Srivastava, S.C.(1988).Control of ixodid ticks by chemicals.Ill Bioassay tests against
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Mignon, B.R. and Losson, BJ. (1996). Efficacy of a phytoaromatic gel against auricu lar mange in rabbits
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Nolan, J. (1987). New approaches to the de velopment and management of drugs used in ectoparasitic
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Roy, S., Maiti, S.K. and Ali, S.L. (1996). Therapeutic evaluation of herbal ectopara siticides against
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